The AV Club's Best TV Series of the Decade

[Thomas Balkcom]

bored at school, what do you think?

1. The Wire
2. The Sopranos
3. Arrested Development
4. Freaks and Geeks
5. Mad Men
6. Breaking Bad
7. The Office (UK)
8. LOST
9. Deadwood
10. The Shield
11. The Office (US)
12. Battlestar Galactica
13. 30 Rock
14. Futurama
15. Veronica Mars
16. Friday Night Lights
17. Firefly
18. How I Met Your Mother
19. Big Love
20. Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
21. Curb Your Enthusiasm
22. Six Feet Under
23. Undeclared
24. Dexter
25. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
26. The Venture Brothers
27. Flight of the Conchords
28. Eastbound and Down
29. Wonder Showzen
30. The West Wing

[xjulianx89]

Glad The Wire is on there. It deserves the spot.

Six Feet Under should be in the top five.

[Thomas Balkcom]

Glad The Wire is on there. It deserves the spot.

Six Feet Under should be in the top five.

that was the biggest surprise for me (not on a personal level), I remembered The AV Club absolutely loving the show, in fact, that may have been the reason I got into it.

[IAmNietzche]

Ugh.

Where to start. SFU is WAY too low. Oz is inexplicably missing (should be in the top 3). No Dead Like Me is a travesty. No Carnevale is even worse. Boston Legal should probably be on there. Weeds as well. Rescue Me and 24 probably should have squeaked on. Also missing House.

[Thomas Balkcom]

haha nice edit on Twin Peaks

[xjulianx89]

that was the biggest surprise for me (not on a personal level), I remembered The AV Club absolutely loving the show, in fact, that may have been the reason I got into it.

It's probably my favorite HBO show. I realize The Wire is a remarkable achievement, but I just prefer Six Feet Under.

Best acting out of any show that I've seen.

[Thomas Balkcom]

also It's Always Sunny is missing

[xjulianx89]

Deadwood is ahead of Six Feet Under? Come on..

[williek311]

Shame not to see Chappelle Show on there. Even though it had a short run it's still better than most comedies.

[kaycey]

first time im even hearing about "the wire".

[Thomas Balkcom]

Shame not to see Chappelle Show on there. Even though it had a short run it's still better than most comedies.

I didn't even think about that, that's a pretty big omission.

[Thomas Balkcom]

this follow up http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-best-tv-episodes-of-the-decade-from-shows-not,35282/ deals with some of the bigger missing ones. I am not the biggest fan of Scrubs but I do enjoy it and they included one of my favorite episodes. And also South Park's "Scott Tenorman Must Die" but they could have picked a better It's Always Sunny episode.

[IAmNietzche]

Also, if you're gonna have Freaks and Geeks (premiered in 1999) then you have to have King of Queens on there.

[DryEarth]

Six Feet Under is way too low.
Not a bad top 4 though.

[stayillogical]

Just happy to see Veronica Mars on the list.

[Adeniz19]

Scrubs?

[WarpSpeedChewy]

Great list. Would love to see LOST up a little higher but more than glad to see Futurama on there. Wish Pushing Daisies was on it.

[itsmesean0630]

Why only 29? Or is it not complete?

[Thomas Balkcom]

Why only 29? Or is it not complete?

I'm an idiot, I fixed it

[fluke182]

Battlestar at 12 is disgusting. It has to be top 10, and behind the US Office is a travesty.

[bouttogetfancy]

Hmm no Scrubs or Pushing Daisies. My brother abandoned all his The Wire dvds at home so maybe I'll check it out sometime.

[Back_in_Anger]

They place Chappelle's Show (#2) on their other list of talk show/variety. As well as Daily show and Colbert Report (both ranked #1). I wanted to see Six feet Under and West Wing higher. I was surprised to see some newer shows (Breaking Bad, Eastbound and Down) on there at all. But, a pretty solid top ten. The Wire is the best television show I've ever seen. It's worth every second and absolutely rewarding.

[Formatfun]

The Office (US) needs to be number one. This list has bad flaws.
Where is The Whitest Kids U'Know? Best sketch comedy show on TV (and probably the best one ever).

[shibbee]

How about Entourage?

[Justin_stacy]

nice to see Wonder Shozen on there

very surprising given its limited press and coverage. I had to wait for the DVD to even see it here.

[Justin_stacy]

Eastbound is too new and short to be on there over shows like Chappelle, Strangers With Candy or Ali G Show. And Its Always Sunny is this decades Seinfeld, far more deserving of a nod than HIMYM (which has tanked) or a spot as high as 30 Rock.

[SlappedActor]

Did the show have to begin within this decade to be included? Because if not, then Buffy the Vampire Slayer should definitely be there.

edit: Fuck, #25 haha. How did I miss that.

[flask]

The Office (US) needs to be number one. This list has bad flaws.
Where is The Whitest Kids U'Know? Best sketch comedy show on TV (and probably the best one ever).


really?

like...really?

honestly, the list seems fine to me. i dont really see anything id move around or anything i'd add, except for pushing daisies and the inbetweeners, which is the funniest show i've ever seen but is from the UK and i guess they're making a US version which im not too excited for. but it worked for the office so maybe it'll work too. either way, youtube it and laugh your ass off.

[Jake Denning]

Where the hell is Jackass?

[gilatron5000]

Battlestar at 12 is disgusting. It has to be top 10, and behind the US Office is a travesty.This is exactly what I came in to say. I'd even put it above The UK Office.

[TachyonEvan]

bored at school, what do you think?


3. Arrested Development
4. Freaks and Geeks
5. Mad Men
8. LOST
11. The Office (US)
12. Battlestar Galactica
13. 30 Rock
14. Futurama
17. Firefly
18. How I Met Your Mother
23. Undeclared
25. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
27. Flight of the Conchords


Yes to these. The inclusion of Undeclared, Firefly, and HIMYM pretty much just makes me want to support this list so hard. Love it.

[TachyonEvan]

Eastbound is too new and short to be on there over shows like Chappelle, Strangers With Candy or Ali G Show. And Its Always Sunny is this decades Seinfeld, far more deserving of a nod than HIMYM (which has tanked) or a spot as high as 30 Rock.

Always Sunny is exactly like Seinfeld. It's funnier, but, fact is, it's the same old schtick.

HIMYM is a fantastic comedy. Critical reception and popularity has nothing to do with this list (See: Firefly, Undeclared, Freaks and Geeks- all cancelled after a season.)

[gilatron5000]

oh wow, I didn't see Firefly.

I'd also be hard pressed to say that was better than Buffy.

LOVE that HIMYM is on the list though.

[SlappedActor]

It's hard to match up 12 episodes of Firefly with seven seasons of Buffy. As it stands, Buffy is the better show because it had time to grow, but Firefly had a lot more potential I thought.

[TachyonEvan]

oh wow, I didn't see Firefly.

I'd also be hard pressed to say that was better than Buffy.

LOVE that HIMYM is on the list though.

I've had this discussion before in the Whedon thread - (all my opinion.) Firefly is more an entity than Buffy. Look at the first three seasons of Buffy - they were essentially just an after-school special. But what Buffy became eventually managed to reach (at points) the majesty of Firefly. Firefly's only got the one season, and it doesn't even feel like a television show, which can be either a good or a bad thing, depending on your opinion.

Buffy's probably my favorite, but I feel no qualms about saying that Firefly was (and could have been even more so) a better show.

[fake empire]

The Office (US) needs to be number one. This list has bad flaws.
Where is The Whitest Kids U'Know? Best sketch comedy show on TV (and probably the best one ever).
Wow, you're dumb. Are those the only 2 shows you've ever watched?

[fake empire]

Buffy should be much higher, and I'm stoked to see Tim and Eric on there.

I'm also surprised Veronica Mars is above Buffy... love em both though.

[fake empire]

Where the hell is Jackass?
Really?

[Formatfun]

Wow, you're dumb. Are those the only 2 shows you've ever watched?
Um. No.

Have you seen TWKUK? If you have, and aren't fighting for its RIGHT to be on this list, you're the dumb one.
And you made 3 posts in a row.

[fake empire]

Um. No.

Have you seen TWKUK? If you have, and aren't fighting for its RIGHT to be on this list, you're the dumb one.
And you made 3 posts in a row.
I have seen it, and it's certainly not the best sketch comedy show of the decade.

[Rawrr]

3. Arrested Development
4. Freaks and Geeks
5. Mad Men
8. LOST
11. The Office (US)
13. 30 Rock
14. Futurama
19. Big Love
28. Eastbound and Down


These are prob in my favorites as well.

Also, why should scrubs be on this list? I can't see it being in the Best Tv series from this decade at all.

[fake empire]

Also, why should scrubs be on this list? I can't see it being in the Best Tv series from this decade at all.
Yea, I love the early seasons, but it got pretty crappy over the last few seasons. Because of that, it probably shouldn't be on here.

[Galedeep]

Scrubs Seasons 1-4 could probably make the list, but Scrubs season 7 is actually terrible. That's me speaking as a big fan of the show as well.

A very agreeable list, overall, I'd say. Order and whatnot are mostly up to personal preference, but out of the shows I've seen that are on there I'm inclined to agree.

[TachyonEvan]

Isn't Breaking Bad kind of a stretch? I'd never even heard of the show until this year's Emmy awards.... isn't it rather new? And having it THAT high on the list?

Same with Eastbound and Down - Really? A show that premiered this year and has SIX EPISODES?

Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! is awful. Don't understand the appeal there.

[fake empire]

Isn't Breaking Bad kind of a stretch? I'd never even heard of the show until this year's Emmy awards.... isn't it rather new? And having it THAT high on the list?

Same with Eastbound and Down - Really? A show that premiered this year and has SIX EPISODES?

Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! is awful. Don't understand the appeal there.
Tim and Eric is brilliant

[TachyonEvan]

Tim and Eric is brilliant

It's sophomoric and a waste of time.

[fake empire]

It's sophomoric and a waste of time.
It's not really sophomoric, it just appears that way on the surface. But whatever, people have different tastes.

[TachyonEvan]

It's not really sophomoric, it just appears that way on the surface. But whatever, people have different tastes.

But we don't hahaha. We both love Joss Whedon and Scott Pilgrim.

[xjulianx89]

Isn't Breaking Bad kind of a stretch? I'd never even heard of the show until this year's Emmy awards.... isn't it rather new? And having it THAT high on the list?

It has had two seasons. I can't believe Firefly is that high. It only had 14 episodes..

[Formatfun]

I have seen it, and it's certainly not the best sketch comedy show of the decade.
Well. Something's wrong on your part.
Get your sense of humor checked.

[Rawrr]

-Tim & Eric is great.
-The Whitest Kids You Know is subpar.
-Eastbound and Down, despite only having six episodes, is one of the funniest series I've seen and is better than the majority of whatever shitty sitcoms networks are spewing out currently. Deserves to be on this list

Ok.

[fake empire]

But we don't hahaha. We both love Joss Whedon and Scott Pilgrim.
That's true haha.

Well. Something's wrong on your part.
Get your sense of humor checked.
The fact that you think the US Office deserves to be number 1 says it all.

-Tim & Eric is great.
-The Whitest Kids You Know is subpar.
-Eastbound and Down, despite only having six episodes, is one of the funniest series I've seen and is better than the majority of whatever shitty sitcoms networks are spewing out currently. Deserves to be on this list

Ok.
I agree with all of this.

[Rawrr]

http://i.adultswim.com/asfix/repository/8a25c392109799c3011098b1d6f40001/thumbnail_14259.jpg

[fake empire]

bahahah

[Formatfun]

The Whitest Kids You Know is subpar.
I agree with all of this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdPAGxu8mWU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO-UILN5sCA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI3_sk4sOmM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmQtSeDnMUw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEpbpoqgUdM

Some of my favorite sketches. How can you call it subpar?

[fake empire]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdPAGxu8mWU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO-UILN5sCA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI3_sk4sOmM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmQtSeDnMUw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEpbpoqgUdM

Some of my favorite sketches. How can you call it subpar?
I don't think it's bad, I just think there are plenty of better sketch shows.

[Formatfun]

I don't think it's bad, I just think there are plenty of better sketch shows.
Like what? I really have no idea of a sketch show that's better. Important Things With Demetri Martin is kind've a sketch show and it had some funny things, but Demetri's generally funnier doing his stand-up bits. So that's not it.

EDIT: I brought him up 'cause he's one of my favorite comedians and I like his show.

[TachyonEvan]

It has had two seasons. I can't believe Firefly is that high. It only had 14 episodes..

How are you bold?

Firefly is mindblowing.

[fake empire]

Like what? I really have no idea of a sketch show that's better. Important Things With Demetri Martin is kind've a sketch show and it had some funny things, but Demetri's generally funnier doing his stand-up bits. So that's not it.

EDIT: I brought him up 'cause he's one of my favorite comedians and I like his show.
From this decade... Human Giant, Upright Citizens Brigade, Tim and Eric, and Michael and Michael Have Issues all come to mind.
Of all time? The State, Mr. Show, The Ben Stiller Show, Monty Python... there are tons.

[TachyonEvan]

Don't forget Stella.

[fake empire]

Don't forget Stella.
Stella is one of my favorite shows but is it really considered a sketch show?

[Gaugzilla]

Great list. I don't agree with "Eastbound and Down" being on there, in lieu of say, "24," which, while diluted in recent seasons, really helped usher in the popularity of serialized dramas.

[Justin_stacy]

Always Sunny is exactly like Seinfeld. It's funnier, but, fact is, it's the same old schtick.

HIMYM is a fantastic comedy.

Same old 'schtick' could be said of about half the list, and most of the better entries.

The key word with HIMYM is was. It was a fantastic comedy for about 2 and half seasons. Then it became average, and has since slowly drifted off into completely forgettable. There are numerous shows that have either held up or gotten better with each seasons that are more deserving of a spot here.

As much as I love those early seasons, they hardly entitle it to a place on any decade list.

Critical reception and popularity has nothing to do with this list (See: Firefly, Undeclared, Freaks and Geeks- all cancelled after a season.)

Not really sure how you figure that. The three you listed were critical favorites during and following their initial run. About half the list has/had major ratings success, and most of the rest are massive cult favorites.

To what level critical reception or popularity played in the list is disputable, but there's nothing about the list that says those two things weren't taken into account.

[xjulianx89]

How are you bold?

Firefly is mindblowing.
Don't ask me.
:-p
I bought Firefly on Blu-Ray about two months ago. I have yet to watch it.

[TachyonEvan]

Stella is one of my favorite shows but is it really considered a sketch show?

I guess not. It just generally feels like it.

[TachyonEvan]

Don't ask me.
:-p
I bought Firefly on Blu-Ray about two months ago. I have yet to watch it.

It isn't possible that you're bold. Does not compute.

[Gaugzilla]

Stella is one of my favorite shows but is it really considered a sketch show?
No, it's not. It's hilarious and uses alot of non-sequiturs. But it's no more a sketch comedy than Family Guy.

[xjulianx89]

It isn't possible that you're bold. Does not compute.

I really don't know why I'm bold.

:shrug:

[johnnybb]

Scrubs?

[WhiteLies.]

Battlestar at 12 is disgusting. It has to be top 10, and behind the US Office is a travesty.
I came in here to say this.

[domotime2]

futurama?

[domotime2]

futurama?

[thursday727]

Also, if you're gonna have Freaks and Geeks (premiered in 1999) then you have to have King of Queens on there.
Kings of Queens dosn't deserve to be in the same sentence as Freaks and Geeks let alone the same list.

[domotime2]

LOST (and flashforward/V) is the only non-comedy i watch on tv. And Always Sunny/wonder showzen/whitest kids, is the only non-animated comedy.


i cant get into tv shows.

[Robb]

Kings of Queens dosn't deserve to be in the same sentence as Freaks and Geeks let alone the same list.

Freaks and Geeks is one of the greatest shows ever, and yet didn't even manage to last 15% as long as the completely average King of Queens.

See, I proved you wrong!

[IAmNietzche]

Kings of Queens dosn't deserve to be in the same sentence as Freaks and Geeks let alone the same list.
False.

[popdisaster00]

Sweet to see Breaking Bad so high

[Justin_stacy]

I didn't even hear about it until the first season was on DVD. Comedy Central would have been a much better fit than MTV2

Have you seen Xavier Renegade Angel, the latest show from the Wonder Showzen creators, which is on Adult Swim

Nope, out side of Aqua Teen I don't watch much Adult Swim as its a bitch to keep track of the shows I like. But I'll for it this weekend.

Speaking of little noticed cartoons ever see Code Monkeys or Undergrads? Both were shows I had to wait for the DVD's for to finally see, but turned out to be well worth the wait. Undergrads had the potential to be one of the best cartoons ever had MTV not canceled after one season. Its alot like Undeclared but funnier and more consistant.

[Thomas Balkcom]

Sweet to see Breaking Bad so high

I need to get into this show.

[popdisaster00]

I need to get into this show.
I think it smashes shows like The Sopranos to pieces. It is so ridiculously good.

[Thomas Balkcom]

I think it smashes shows like The Sopranos to pieces. It is so ridiculously good.

that's all I ever about it, maybe I'll do that this weekend while the roommate is out of town

[popdisaster00]

that's all I ever about it, maybe I'll do that this weekend while the roommate is out of town
First season is only like 6-7 episodes but I promise as soon as you start it, you won't stop watching until it's over.

[tyramail]

i'm ecstatic that veronica mars is on the list. i think dexter should be higher and weeds and the l word should have made it. i have been wanting to get into breaking bad and the sopranos for awhile, i should do that.

[Kif]

It's cool to see someone else who thinks BSG is better than Firefly. I mean, I liked it, but it wasn't that good (Neither was Serenity for that matter).

Anyway I guess I agree even though I've only seen like half of those shows, but switch one for 24 and I'm good.